Tennis ace Serena Williams clarified Wednesday the controversial comments she made in a magazine article about the victim 's role in the Steubenville , Ohio , rape case that garnered national headlines earlier this year .

In March , two high school football players were convicted of raping a drunk teen at a party and posting pictures of the incident online .

In an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone magazine , Williams talks about the convicted rapists after a news report about the case appeared on a nearby TV screen during the interview . `` Do you think it was fair , what they got ? They did something stupid , but I do n't know . I 'm not blaming the girl , but if you 're a 16-year-old and you 're drunk like that , your parents should teach you : Do n't take drinks from other people , '' she told Rolling Stone .

Of the victim , Williams also says in the interview : `` She 's 16 , why was she that drunk where she does n't remember ? It could have been much worse . She 's lucky . Obviously , I do n't know , maybe she was n't a virgin , but she should n't have put herself in that position , unless they slipped her something , then that 's different . ''

The comments , posted on Rolling Stone 's website Tuesday , immediately caused a firestorm on social media , particularly on Twitter where users castigated the tennis star .

On Wednesday , Williams released a statement on her website clarifying her remarks .

`` What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me . I was deeply saddened . For someone to be raped , and at only sixteen , is such a horrible tragedy ! For both families involved -- that of the rape victim and of the accused , '' she wrote .

`` I am currently reaching out to the girl 's family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article . What was written -- what I supposedly said -- is insensitive and hurtful , and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame , '' Williams added .

Stephen Rodrick , who wrote the Rolling Stone article , stands by his reporting , telling the Poynter Institute : `` The interview is on tape . Other than that , I 'll let the story speak for itself . ''

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Serena Williams clarifies comments on Steubenville rape published in Rolling Stone

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Tennis star apologizes for `` what I supposedly said , '' calls crime `` horrible tragedy ''

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The victim `` should n't have put herself in that position , '' Williams said , according to Rolling Stone

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Rolling Stone reporter stands by the article , says interview is on tape